Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks (monomers) of proteins. 20 different amino acids are used to synthesize proteins. The shape and other properties of each protein is dictated by the precise sequence of amino acids in it.

Each amino acid consists of an alpha carbon atom to which is attached

a hydrogen atom
an amino group (hence "amino" acid)
a carboxyl group (-COOH). This gives up a proton and is thus an acid (hence amino "acid")
one of 20 different "R" groups. It is the structure of the R group that determines which of the 20 it is and its special properties. The amino acid shown here is Alanine.

**The Amino Acids**
(For each amino acid, both the three-letter and single-letter codes are given. CLICK the NAME to see the structural formula)
Alanine	Ala	A	hydrophobic
Arginine	Arg	R	free amino group makes it basic and hydrophilic
Asparagine	Asn	N	carbohydrate can be covalently linked ("N-linked) to its -NH
Aspartic acid	Asp	D	free carboxyl group makes it acidic and hydrophilic
Cysteine	Cys	C	oxidation of their sulfhydryl (-SH) groups link 2 Cys (S-S)
Glutamic acid	Gly	E	free carboxyl group makes it acidic and hydrophilic
Glutamine	Gln	Q	moderately hydrophilic
Glycine	Gly	G	so small it is amphiphilic (can exist in any surroundings)
Histidine	His	H	basic and hydrophilic
Isoleucine	Ile	I	hydrophobic
Leucine	Leu	L	hydrophobic
Lysine	Lys	K	strongly basic and hydrophilic
Methionine	Met	M	hydrophobic
Phenylalanine	Phe	F	very hydrophobic
Proline	Pro	P	causes kinks in the chain
Serine	Ser	S	carbohydrate can be covalently linked ("O-linked") to its -OH
Threonine	Thr	T	carbohydrate can be covalently linked ("O-linked") to its -OH
Tryptophan	Trp	W	scarce in most plant proteins
Tyrosine	Tyr	Y	-OH group makes it moderately hydrophilic
Valine	Val	V	hydrophobic

Humans must include adequate amounts of 9 amino acids in their diet. These "essential" amino acids cannot be synthesized from other precursors. However, cysteine can partially meet the need for methionine (they both contain sulfur), and tyrosine can partially substitute for phenylalanine.

The Essential Amino Acids
Histidine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lysine
Methionine (and/or cysteine)
Phenylalanine (and/or tyrosine)
Threonine
Tryptophan
Valine

Two of the essential amino acids, lysine and tryptophan, are poorly represented in most plant proteins. Thus strict vegetarians should take special pains to ensure that their diet contains sufficient amounts of these two amino acids.

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11 March 1996